Lister-cultivator.



H. S. DICKINSON. LISTER CULTIVATOR. APPLICATION man JUNE 21, 1916. RENEWED MAY I5, 1918.

1,271,292.- Patented July 2, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H. S. DICKINSON.

LISTER CULTIVATORL APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21,1916. RENEWED MAY I5, 918- 1,271,-292. Patented July 2,1918.

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H. S. DICKINSON.

LI STER CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2!, HHS. RENEWED MAY 15.19 18.

1,271,292. Patented July 2, 1918.

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HARRY 's. DICKINSON, orMo INE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB T0 MoLINEr ow COMPANY, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS. Q

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Specification of Letters Patent. i V Patentd' J Application filed June 1916, Serial No. 105,090. Renewed Ma 15,1918. s -i i No. 234,779]

To all whom it may concern:

Be-it known that I, HARRY S. DICKINSON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lister-Cultivators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to cultivators and has reference more particularly to lister cultivators in which cultivating devices carried by the frame of the machine operate between adjacent ridges atopposite sides of the'row of plants. Machines of this type are usually sustained by apair of carrying wheels which are set so as to run in rather close proximity to the row on opposite sides of the same, and these wheels are adjustable up and down in order to raise the cultivatof balance wheels which are mounted outward of the carrying wheels'and which are adjustable up and down so that when the machine is in action the balance wheels will travel -011 the ridges between which the carrying wheels run, and when the machine is out of action as when turning or in transporting, the balance wheels are moved down so as to travel at the same level as the carrying wheels. It is also customary to arrange the balance wheels so 'that they may be set to travel at different elevations with reference to the carrying wheels in order to meet thevarying conditions encountered in practice as to the height of the ridges.

By reason of the arrangement of the parts mentioned, when the machine is in operation on the plants, the two sets of greater vertical distancethan the carrying wheels; and when the wheels are moved up wardly to again lower the frame and cultivating devices for action, the balance wheels are moved a greater vertical distance upwardly so as to occupy a higher level.

Various forms of mechanisms for control 1mg these movements of the two 'sets of.

wheels have been devised, but'so far as I am aware these mechanisms have been of a complicated oharactenand it has been nec versa, to actuate separate adjusting mecha' -vention consists broadly in operative connections between the two sets of wheels so constructed and arrangedthat the wheels will be caused to move together in lowering them to raise the frame or in raising them to lower the frame, but different relative vertical distances, the balance wheels moving a greater distance than the carrying wheels, whereby when the wheels are lowered the balance wheels will move from a higher level to the same level as the carrying wheels, and when the wheels are raised the reverse movement of the balance wheels will take place. Inthe more specific embodiment ofmy invention, a single operating lever for controlling the movements of the two sets of wheels is employed, and two connecting devices from the lever to the respective setsof wheels are provided, these parts being so arranged relativelythat when the lever is operated to lower the wheels in order to raise the machine out of action, the two sets of wheels will move together, the balance wheels a greater vertical distance than the supporting wheels, and when the lever is operated to raise thewheels and lowerthe machine into action, the two sets of wheels will again move together with thebalance wheels moving a greater distance upwardly than the carrying wheels so that they will occupy a higher level to travel on the ridges. My invention also consists in so forming 'the operative connections between the two sets of wheels that the position of the balance f wheels relative to the carrying wheels may be Varied or adjusted, tothe end that the varying conditions encountered in practice as regards the height of the ridges on rrnn STATES PATENT onrrcn.

whichthe balance wheels travel may be prothe sides of the row of plants.

Fig.3 is a slde elevation of the ina'chine with the parts in the position theyoccupy when the cultivating devices are down in action. 7 y, m

, Fig. 1 is a similar View showing the whe'els down the cultivating devices elevated out of action; I

Referring to the drawings: 7

1 represents the frame of the machine to which is attached a stub tongue 2. Mounted ontlie frame is a horizontal transverse rock shaft gpivo'ted to the frameby means of horizontal transverse pivot bolts 3" to rock about the axes ofthe bolts. The shaft is provided with an upwardly extending arm 41, and has adjustably connected with it a a transverse rear frame member 1?. Jointed tothis ariii is the rear end of alink 5 which extends forwardly and has its forward end jointed as at' 6 to anupright hand lever 7, the lower end of whichis pivotedto the stub tongue on a horizontal transverse axis as at 8. The lever provided with a locking latch not shown but adapted to engage a toothed segment frame fixed to the stub tongue and operated by a latch lever 7 on the lever 7 by means of which lever the rock shaft n ay' be rocked in the frame and held fixedly inits different positions.

9, 9 represent two carrying-wheelsupports in the form of stems fixed at their upper ends to the rock shaft and extending downw'ardly therefrom thesaidstems being bent outwardly at their lower ends to form axles for carryingwheels 11. The stems 9 are set rather close together; near the center of the rock shaft so that the earryingwheels will travel in close proximity to the sides of the row of plantsas shown in'Fig. 2, and when the machineisin operation with the culti vating devices in action, the carrying wheel stems {9' extend at a forward" inclination as show n in Fig; 3, the lever 7 when the wheels are in this position, being in its rear position, as shown in F ig. When the lever is, swung forwardly to the position shown Fig; 1 the shaft 3; will be rocked, in a clockwise direction wh ch will swing the carrying v heistemse rearwardly and will elevate 5275 I the frame or the machine.

r The cultivating devices in the present instance are inthe form of cultivating shovels 12 sustained by the frame member 1 and cultivating disks 12 carried on the rear ends of beams; 13 which extend forwardly and upwardly and have their forward ends fixed .to the rock shaft 3, so that when the wheel stems are swun to the rear to raise the frame; these dis is will be raised from the ground, the efiect of the rearward movement of thecarrying wheels being in this action to counter-balance the weight of the'disks by shifting the center of gravity of the machine in the manner-wen known to those skilled in this art. V s

Journaled in bearings 1% on the frame in advance of the rock shaft 3 is a second horizontal'transverse rocksha'ft 15, the ends of which are extended downwardly toforni balance wheel supports or stems 16, the lower ends of these stems being turned outwardly to form' axles 17011 which balance wheels 18 are mounted.

These balance wheels are disposed outwardly of and a considerable distance from the carrying wheels, and when the machine is in action they are adapted to travel at a higher level than the carrying wheels and on the tops of theridges as shown in Fig. 2. lhenthe machine turned at the ends of the rows or isto be transported these balance wheels aremove'd downwardly so as to travel at the same level as the carrying wheels as shown in Fig. 4, the function of the wheels being thus to maintain the machine frame horizontal and prevent the same from tipping which would be liable to occur from the fact that the carrying wheels are set closetogethe'r at the center of the machine.

v Firmly fixed to and extendingupwardly from the rock shaft is an arm 19 containa number of latch engaging openings 20 arranged in a row at different distances from the axis of the shaft, the said arm being curved for the purpose presently to be described. These latch openings areadapted to be engaged by a latch2l on the rear end of a link 22 which link extends forwardly to the hand lever 7 and passes loosely at its forward end through a block 23 which is pivoted to the hand lever on a horizontal trai'isverse axis coincident with the point of pivotal connection of the link 5 with, the said lever. The link 22 extends beyond the block and is provided on its extrem ty with an adjustable head 24 between which and the forward side of the block the link is encircled by a spiral spring 25.

7 As a result of the construction described, when the lever 7 pushed forwardly it will, due to its connection with the arm 19 by the link 22, rock the shaft 15 in a clockwise direction whichaction will swing the balance wheel stems 16' reaiwardly and will" lower the wheels from an elevated position;

I as shown in Fig. 8. to the po'sitionshown in Fig. 4, the movement of the lever in the opposite d rection causing a reverse motlon 7 an elevated position as shown in Fig. 3, it being understood that in these movements of the balance wheels, the earrymg wheels will be simultaneously moved due to the connection of the hand lever with the rock shaft 3.

The arm 19 is curved from a center coincident with, the pivotal point of connection of the block'23 with the hand lever when the balance wheels are in their lowered position. as shown in Fig. 4, the result being that when the parts are in this position with both sets of wheels traveling at the same level, the link 22 may by means of the latch 21 thereon be connected with the arm '19 at different distances from the axis of the shaft 15. The

purpose of this construction is'to enable the 1 greater vertical distance, so that the balance wheels, when the machine is lowered into action, will be -movedupwardly and assume a higher level than the carrying wheels so as to travel on the ridges, and when the ma chine is raised out 'of action the balance wheels will be moved downwardly to the same level as the carrying wheels, thesemovements of the balance wheels being greater in extent in a vertical direction than the correspending movements of the carrying wheels.

The'link 22 is shown connected with the arm- 19 at a point closer to the axis of the'shaft 15 than the distance bet-ween theaxis of shaft 3 and the point of connection of'the link 5 with the 'arm L the result being that the balance wheels will begiven a greater movement in the operation of the hand lever,

than the movement of the carrying wheel,

the latch being shown as engagedin the low est of the series of latch openings. e I It is seen therefore that with the partsadjusted in the position shown, the two -sets of wheels will when the hand'lever is operated, be moved together, but the balance'wheels will be moved" a greater distance than the carrying wheels and will always assume the same level when moved downwardly to ele vate the frame for transportation or turning and the two sets of wheels will always assume different levels when moved upwardly to lower the frame for action. 7 By theengagement of the-latch in one or the other of the openings above the lowest one, the effective leverage of the arm 19 on the rock shaft 15 will be increased,with the result that-the proportionate relative movement of the two sets of wheels will be decreased. Such adjustment of the latch would be resorted to in cases where the ridges on which the balance wheels. travel-when the machine is in action, were less in height than those shown, such conditions requiring a lesser degree of movement of the balance wheels in relation to the carrying wheels when moving from anelevated position to a lowered position or vice versa. "It is seen therefore that byreason of the adjustable connection of the link 22 with the arm 19,

the relation of the balance wheels to the car rying wheels may be changed, in order to meet the changing conditions encountered in practice as regards the height of the ridges on which the balance wheels travel, the operation of the lever 7 however causing the balance wheels when moved downwardly to elevate the frame to always take the same level as the carrying wheels without regard to. what particular adjustment the balance wheels. may have been set with reference to the carrying wheels.

From the foregoing descriptionit will be seen that the driver by means of the single controlling hand lever is enabled to instantly and automatically control the movements of both sets of wheels, notwithstanding the fact that in their movements, one set of wheels moves a diiferent vertical distance from the other set.

In the accompanying drawings and foregoing description I have disclosed my invention in the particular form and detailed construction which I prefer to adopt,'but it will be. understood that various changes may be.

made in these details, and that the construction may be variously modified witho'ut departing from the limits of my invention pro vided the operation is substantially as above set forth; and it will be further understood that the invention is not limited to any particular form oriconstruction of the parts eX- cept in so far as such limitations are specifiedin the claims. 7

I lay no claim in the present application to those features which are shown and claimed in my companion application filed January 21st, 1916, Ser. No. 73,290.

- Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: 1. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame adapted to carry cultivating devices,

carrying wheels mounted on the frame and outward of the carrying wheels and movable up and down relatively to the frame, connections between the two sets of wheels to cause them to move together but different relative vertical distances, and an operating lever sustained by the frame andconnected with said connecting devices for operating them.

8. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame adapted to carry'cultivating devices, carrying wheels mounted on the frame and adapted to travel at the sides of the row and movable vertically relatively to the frame, balance wheels mounted on the frame outward of the carrying wheels and movable up and down relatively to the frame, and operative connections between the two sets of wheels to cause them to move together different relative vertical distances, said connections being adjustable to vary the relation of the two sets of wheels to each other in the direction of movement.

4. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame adapted to carry cultivating devices, carrying wheels mounted on the frame and adapted to travel at the sides of the row and movable up and down relatively to the frame, balance wheels mounted on the frame outward of the carrying wheels and movable up and down relatively to the frame, and operative connections between the two sets of wheels to cause them to move together, said connections operating when the wheels are down and the frame elevated to maintain the wheels at the same level, and operating when the wheels are up and the frame lowered to maintain the sets of wheels at different levels.

5. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame adapted to carry cultivating devices, carrying wheels mounted on theframe and adapted to travel at the sides of the row and movable up and down relatively to the frame, balance wheels mounted on the frame outward of the carrying wheels and movable up and down relatively to the frame, and means for moving the two sets of wheels together difierent relative vertical distances,

the balance wheels a greater distance than the carrying wheels.

6. In ac'ultivator, the combination of a frame adapted to carry cultivating devices, carrying wheels mounted on the frame and adapted to travel at the sides of the row and movable up and down relatively to the frame, balance wheels mounted on the frame outward of the carrying wheels and movable up and down relatively to the frame, a common operating member, a connecting device between the operating member and the carrying wheels, and a second connecting device between the operating member and the balance wheels, said parts being so constructed and relatively arranged that the actuation of h p at ng m b r will cause the two sets of wheels to move to gether'but different relative vertical distances.

In a cultivator, the combination of a frame adapted to carry cultivating devices, a horizontal transverse rock shaft mounted in the frame, carrying-wheel supports con nected with the rock shaft, carrying wheels mounted on the supports and movable up and down in the rocking motions of the shaft, a lateral arm on the shaft, a second horizontal transverse rock shaft mounted inthe frame, balance-wheel supports connected with said second rock shaft, a lateral arm on said second rock shaft, balance wheels mounted on the balancewheel supports and movable up and down in the rocking motions of the second rock shaft, an operating lever mounted on the frame, a connecting device jointed at one end to the lever and at its other end to the arm on the first mentioned rock shaft, and a second connecting device jointed at one end to the lever and at its opposite end to the arm on the second mentioned rock shaft, the point of connection of said second mentioned connecting device with its arm being closer to the axis of the second mentioned shaft than is the point of connection of the first mentioned connecting device with its arm to the axis of the first mentioned shaft; whereby both sets of wheels will be caused to move together, the balance wheels a greater ver tical distance than the carrying wheels.

8. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame adapted to carry cultivating devices, a horizontal transverse rock shaft mounted in the frame, carrying-wheel supports connected with the rock shaft, carrying wheels mounted on the supports and movable up and down in the rocking motions of the shaft, a lateral arm on the shaft, a second horizontal transverse rock shaft mounted in the frame, balance-wheel supports connected with said second rock shaft, balance wheels mounted on the balance-wheel supports and movable up and down in the rocking motions of the shaft, a lateral arm on said second rock shaft, an operating lever mounted on the frame, a connecting device jointed at one end to the lever and at its other end to the arm on the first mentioned rock shaft, and a second connecting device jointed at one end to the lever and adjustably connected at' its other end to the arm on said second rock shaft.

9. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame adapted to carry cultivating devices, a horizontal transverse rock shaft mounted in said frame, carry-wheel supports connected with the rock shaft, carrying wheels mounted on the supports and movable up and down in the rocking motions of the shaft, a lateral arm on said rock shaft, a second horizontal transverse rock shaft mounted in the frame, balance-wheel supports connected with said second rock shaft, balance Wheels mounted on said supports and movable up and down in the rocking motions of the shaft, a lateral arm on said second rock shaft, an operating lever mounted on the frame, a connecting device pivoted at one end to said lever and at its other end to the arm on the first mentioned rock shaft, a second connecting device pivoted at one end to said lever, and means for jointing the opposite end of the connecting device to the arm on the second rock shaft at different distances from the axis of the shaft.

10. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame adapted to carry cultivating devices,

a horizontal transverse rock shaft mounted in the frame, carrying-wheel supports connected with the rock shaft, carrying-wheels mounted on said supports and movable up and down in the rocking motions of the shaft, a lateral arm on said shaft, a second horizontal transverse rock shaft mounted in the frame,balance-wheel supports fixed to said rock shaft, balance wheels mounted on the supports and movable up and down in' the rocking motions of the shaft, an operating lever mounted on the'frame, a connecting device jointed at one end to the lever and at its opposite end to the arm on the first mentioned rock shaft, a second connecting device pivoted at one end to said operating lever, a lateral arm on the second mentioned rock shaft provided with a series of openings extending in an arc whose axis is coincident with the point of pivotal connection of the second mentioned connecting device with the operating lever when the two sets of wheels are down and the frame. elevated, and means for connecting the opposite end of the second connecting device in the different openings in the arm as desired.

' 11. Ina cultivator, thecombination of a frame adapted to carry cultivating devices, a horizontal transverse rock shaft mounted in the-frame, carrying-wheel supports connected with the rock shaft, carrying wheels mounted on the support and movable up and down with the rocking motions of the shaft, a second horizontal transverse rock shaft mounted in the frame, balance-wheel supports, connected to said second rockshaft,

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for balance wheels mounted on said supports and movable up and down in the rocking motions of the shaft, a lateral arm on the first mentioned rock shaft, an operating lever mounted'on the frame, a connecting device between the operating lever and the said lateral arm, a second connecting device jointed at its forward end to the operating lever and extending rearwardly therefrom, and a lateral arm on the said second rock shaft curved in an arc whose center is coincident with the point of pivotal connection of the second connecting device with the operating lever when the two sets of wheels are down and the frame elevated, the second mentioned connecting device being provided with means for locking the same to the curved arm at different distances from the axis of the arm.- V r 12. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame adapted to carry cultivating devices, a horizontal transverse rock shaft mounted in the frame, carrying-wheel supports fixed to the shaft, carrying wheels mounted on the supports and movable up and down in the rocking motions of the shaft, a second horizontal transverse rock shaft mounted in the frame, balance-wheel supports connected with said rock shaft, balance wheels mounted on said supports and movable up and down in the rocking motions of the shaft, a hand lever pivoted to the frame in advance of said shafts and movable back and forth on a horizontal transverse axis, a link pivoted to said lever on a horizontal transverse axis, a locking latch on the rear end of said link, a lateral arm on the second mentioned rock shaft provided with a series of latch engaging openings arranged 'ina line curved from an arc whose center is coincident with the point of pivotal connection of the link with the lever when two rockshaft, and a link connected at its forward end with the operating lever and at its rear end with said lateral arm. p

In testimony whereof I have. afiixed my signature.

"HARRY 's. DICKINSON.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

